Local youth becomes bio-friendly

The kids at Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY) have demonstrated their concern for Mother Earth with their recent project of converting a diesel engine school bus into a bio-fuel vehicle.

Director of youth development for PAY, Manny Velazquez, said individuals from high schools throughout the Valley such as Reseda, Monroe, Verdugo Hills, Van Nuys and Panorama are all taking part in the project.

Many kids in the PAY program come from some of the toughest environments around. Some are or were in gangs and tagging crews, while others experienced trouble with drugs or issues in school.

"These kids are no strangers to drive-bys and drug deals," Velazquez said. "We want to show that they care about the environment enough to convert their bus to run on veggie oil."

He said most kids who participate show up to PAY through word-of-mouth. They hear that PAY is a safe-haven, a place for them to hang out. Also, schools and probation officers refer troubled kids to the program. Still, others who need to rack up community service hours complete them by participating with PAY.

Jennifer Roman, 28, is the director of Cal State Northridge's MOSAIC program. This program works in conjunction with PAY, putting college students to serve as mentors for the high school students.

It was through MOSAIC that PAY received the short school bus as a donation. One of MOSAIC's partners, CM Concrete - a Moorpark demolition company - donated the vehicle. The company also agreed to cover the insurance each year.

"The bus was well-maintained and in running condition," said Roman.

The bus will be crucial for PAY since it takes kids regularly on field trips, parades, health fairs and will even drop kids off at home.

The bus will be converted into a bio-fuel vehicle free of charge by Lovecraft Bio-Fuels in Los Angeles.

"They met with the kids, were impressed with them and are not charging them for the conversion in return for advertising," said Velazquez.

Aside from having a free vehicle, not to mention the free oil it will run on, kids from PAY will reach out to local businesses who are willing to make contributions in return for advertisement on the bus.

About 20 kids are involved directly in the project. Their responsibilities include looking at the costs involved and solving issues such as how to find the fuel, pump it and store it.

Not bad for a group of kids that have been in continuation school, probation and have even been arrested.

Velazquez said the group meets weekly and sometimes they have whining sessions. But ultimately the kids begin to grasp the reality of they've accomplished.

Aaron Gordezky, 18, is a student from Jack London Continuation School in North Hollywood and a member of the conversion team.

Gordezky is happy about the project the group has embarked upon.

"Its a very good thing. What we're doing is creating something positive," said Gordezky.

He said PAY is a way for many kids to see new opportunities that maybe they didn't see before.

"It works because the youth today doesn't know about the opportunities out there. This program helped me to see ... no one every told me this could be a career."

Pauline Torres, 16, is a student at Options for Youth in Van Nuys and also a part of the conversion project.

Her responsibilities include creating the myspace page for the project as well as researching where to get the veggie oil to fuel the bus. She is currently helping distribute pamphlets to inform people about what the group is doing.

While taking part in the project, Torres has discovered new avenues in life.

"We meet a lot of people, learn people skills, do research ... qualities needed in the future as adults," said Torres. "It gives us a place to go, rather than being on the streets or getting in trouble."

The project has exposed youth on the opportunities waiting for them when they reach adulthood. As for the education aspect, Velazquez explains "these guys work on a project that keeps them busy ... they make mistakes, but they learn to get past them."

PAY is located at 14418 Chase St., Suite 205, Panorama City. For more information about PAY, call Velazquez at (818) 895-5132.